Cottage food label requirements in Idaho
The short version
A label on food made in a home kitchen in Idaho carries six things wherever you are: what it is, everything in it heaviest first, the major allergens, who made it, how to reach you, and the date. On top of that comes the wording below.
What goes on the label
- The product name, in words a customer would use.
- Every ingredient, heaviest first.
- The major allergens, called out separately from the ingredient list.
- Who made it: your name or your business name.
- How to reach you.
- The date it was made.
What the label has to say
As published for Idaho, read on 5 August 2026:
This product is not subject to government food safety inspection or licensing requirements. It may contain allergens.
This is published as fixed text, so reproduce it exactly rather than rewording it.
Who actually enforces this
Idaho sets the rules centrally but they are enforced locally, so the answer that counts is your own office's rather than the state's. Find the office nearest you.
The detail
IMPORTANT - the law changed. The Idaho Direct-to-Consumer Commerce Act (SB 1283) replaced the old cottage food rule (IDAPA 16.02.19) effective 20 March 2026. The statute does not require a label specifically: the notice may be a conspicuously displayed sign, a label affixed to the product, OR a card given to the informed end consumer. Whichever form is used, it must also carry the producer's name and contact information and a list of ingredients if the product has two or more ingredients. Perishable products must additionally carry handling instructions sufficient to inform the consumer of safe storage and preparation. No permit, registration, routine inspection or sales cap. Sales must be to an informed end consumer; the older rule barred third-party/wholesale/out-of-state distribution. Enforcement, permits and inspections sit with the seven public health districts, which are listed with links on the IDHW food safety page.
Make one
Free, nothing saved, no account. It fills in Idaho's wording for you and prints a sheet.
Where to verify all of this
Rules change, and this page can lag behind them. Before you rely on any of it: